What is Trust Administration?

Trust Administration is the process of managing and distributing assets after the death of a Trust creator. This includes: Identifying and valuing assets Paying legitimate debts and expenses Communicating with beneficiaries Distributing assets in accordance with the Trust Even when probate is avoided, trustees benefit from legal guidance to ensure compliance and reduce conflict.

When should I update my Estate Plan?

You should review your Estate Plan after major life or financial events, including: Marriage or divorce Birth of children or grandchildren Sale or acquisition of a business Significant asset growth Relocation to another state Even without major changes, reviewing your plan every 3–5 years is advisable to ensure alignment with current law and objectives.

What does it mean to “fund” a Trust?

Creating a Trust is only the first step. Funding a Trust means properly transferring or aligning assets so the Trust actually controls them. This may involve: Retitling real estate Updating financial accounts Coordinating beneficiary designations Assigning business interests An unfunded Trust may fail to avoid probate. Proper funding ensures the plan functions as intended.

What is Business Succession Planning?

Business Succession Planning addresses what happens to your company upon death, disability, retirement, or sale. For business owners, Business Law and Estate Planning must be coordinated. Without integration: Ownership interests may pass unintentionally Buy-sell agreements may conflict with personal documents Heirs may inherit illiquid or unmanaged business interests Because The Lawler Group practices both Business Law and Estate Planning, we align corporate structure with personal planning objectives.

When should I hire a Business Law attorney?

Early involvement prevents costly mistakes. Business owners typically seek guidance when: Forming an LLC or corporation Drafting or reviewing significant contracts Adding partners or investors Resolving disputes Planning a sale or succession Proactive legal structure reduces risk and improves leverage.

Estate Planning and Business Attorney

Elevate Your Business, Enrich Your Legacy

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About The Lawler Group

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Clients Are Like Family

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Personalized Consultations

Relatable Representation

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Excellent Client Reviews

Attorney W. Scott Lawler brings more than 35 years of legal experience to every client engagement and is licensed to practice in both Arizona and California. His approach is grounded in careful analysis, practical judgment, and a commitment to helping clients make informed decisions with confidence.

The firm operates through a modern, primarily virtual model, allowing individuals, families, and business owners to receive efficient, responsive legal guidance wherever they are located. This structure provides accessibility without sacrificing personal attention.

As a client-centered practice, we take the time to understand your goals and concerns so we can develop clear, customized strategies. Whether you are seeking to avoid probate, establish a revocable living trust, plan for incapacity, protect future generations, or structure a business transition, our focus remains the same: clarity, protection, and long-term stability.

What Sets Us Apart

Clients of The Lawler Group work directly with an experienced attorney from start to finish. Your planning is not delegated or diluted — it is personally guided with careful attention to detail and long-term consequences.

Our process is structured and intentional. From initial consultation through design, drafting, and formal execution, each step is handled with clarity and precision.

While most planning meetings are conducted virtually for convenience, we personally oversee formal signing ceremonies to ensure your documents are properly executed and legally compliant. These ceremonies are typically held in person — either at a client’s home or at our meeting location in Chandler, Arizona — so every detail is handled with care.

Because our practice integrates both estate planning and corporate law, we are uniquely positioned to address the intersection of business ownership, asset protection, and generational planning. This allows us to design strategies that consider not only today’s needs, but the long-term stability of your family and your enterprise. Thoughtful planning requires more than documents — it requires judgment, foresight, and trusted guidance. That is the standard we bring to every client relationship.

Our Practice Areas

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Corporate / Business Law

Get the Corporate/Business Law Advice You Need

Estate Planning

Start Building Your Structured Legacy Plan

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We serve a multitude of corporate and business needs. This includes new company formation, business transaction completion, business entity maintenance (i.e., Corporation, LLC, Joint Venture, or Partnership), and planning for the succession of your business. We offer comprehensive legal guidance tailored for clients working in the professional world.

Our firm is equipped to handle:

Entity Incorporation and Formation
Transactional Work (Contracts, Leases, Etc.)
Mergers and Acquisitions
Corporate Governance
Shareholder Issues
Other Important Corporate Matters.

Mr. Lawler’s experience and professionalism will help your business effectively navigate the complex legal landscape – enabling you to make the informed decisions necessary to protect your interests.

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Our firm is thrilled to help you along on your estate planning journey. Planning for the future of your loved ones and preserving your legacy is an honorable endeavor. We are eager to hear your story, understand your priorities, and help you ensure your loved ones are taken care of. Additionally, we aim to avoid any legal disputes that may arise along the way.

Our system is designed to make estate planning simple, efficient, and comprehensive for each of our clients. We will work closely with you to learn about your family’s intricacies so that we can design a plan that perfectly fits your situation, needs, and desires as a team. The Scott Legal Group is here to help you create a structured legacy plan that includes everything you need. This will give you peace of mind and clarity about the future of your estate.

Schedule a Consultation

Choose the consultation that best fits your needs.

Estate Planning and Trust Services

For individuals and families seeking to create or update an estate plan, establish a revocable living trust, plan for incapacity, or avoid probate.

Business and Corporate Law

For business owners seeking guidance on formation, contracts, governance, transactions, or succession planning.

Estate Planning

Answers to common questions about wills, trusts, probate, and long-term planning.

Trust Administration is the process of managing and distributing assets after the death of a Trust creator. This includes:

Identifying and valuing assets
Paying legitimate debts and expenses
Communicating with beneficiaries
Distributing assets in accordance with the Trust

Even when probate is avoided, trustees benefit from legal guidance to ensure compliance and reduce conflict.

You should review your Estate Plan after major life or financial events, including:

Marriage or divorce
Birth of children or grandchildren
Sale or acquisition of a business
Significant asset growth
Relocation to another state

Even without major changes, reviewing your plan every 3–5 years is advisable to ensure alignment with current law and objectives.

Creating a Trust is only the first step. Funding a Trust means properly transferring or aligning assets so the Trust actually controls them. This may involve:

Retitling real estate
Updating financial accounts
Coordinating beneficiary designations
Assigning business interests

An unfunded Trust may fail to avoid probate. Proper funding ensures the plan functions as intended.

Online platforms provide forms. They do not provide legal expertise tailored to your specific circumstances. A Will alone typically requires probate. It may not address incapacity planning, asset coordination, or business ownership issues. Online documents also do not evaluate family dynamics or risk exposure affecting beneficiaries. At The Lawler Group, we provide professional guidance to design a coordinated Estate Planning system—including Trusts, Powers of Attorney, healthcare directives, and proper asset alignment. If you want clarity and confidence—not just paperwork—a Structured Legacy Planning Session is the appropriate starting point.

Business

Answers to common questions about business formation, contracts, liability, and operations.

Fees depend on scope and complexity. Some matters are handled on a flat-fee basis, while others require hourly billing due to negotiation or dispute dynamics. During your Strategic Business Law Consultation, we outline anticipated structure and next steps clearly.

Yes. We assist clients with structuring, negotiating, and documenting business transactions, including asset sales, equity transfers, and related agreements. Clear structure and risk evaluation are critical in these transactions.

Business Succession Planning addresses what happens to your company upon death, disability, retirement, or sale. For business owners, Business Law and Estate Planning must be coordinated. Without integration: